Molly Elisabeth Duncan, 26, of Beachwood, Ohio, has been sentenced to 840 months in prison after pleading guilty in April to sexually abusing two infants in her care and distributing the recordings online. US District Judge Pamela A. Barker imposed the sentence on July 22, also ordering 25 years of supervised release once Duncan completes her prison term.
Charges and Sentencing
Duncan admitted to two counts of Sexual Exploitation of Children, Distribution of Visual Depictions of Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct, and Possession of Child Pornography (Child Sexual Abuse Materials). In addition to the prison term, she must pay $20,000 under the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act and $8,000 under the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Assistance Act.
Details of the Abuse
According to court documents and evidence, Duncan worked as a nanny for the families of the two children in northeast Ohio between approximately November 2023 and July 2024. Court records also indicate she had worked as a nanny in the Northern District of Ohio for around 10 years. Prosecutors stated that she sexually abused one child in Portage County and another in Geauga County, both under the age of two.
Investigation and Online Sharing
Investigators said Duncan recorded the abuse on her mobile phone and shared the videos through a social media platform with others who had a sexual interest in children. A forensic examination of her electronic devices uncovered multiple CSAM files related to each victim. The investigation was conducted by the Cleveland Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations and the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, with assistance from the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Margaret A. Kane and Michelle M. Baeppler led the prosecution.
Public Appeal and Initiative
Officials have asked anyone with additional information about the case to contact the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse by coordinating federal, state, and local agencies to identify victims, investigate offenders, and prosecute those who exploit children online. Anyone wishing to report child exploitation is urged to contact the CyberTipline or its 24-hour hotline.
